Deadly Nightclub Fire in Goa Claims 25 Lives: Safety Violations and Narrow Escape Routes

Twenty five people lost their lives and six were injured in a devastating nightclub fire at Goa's Arpora.

The tragic fire at a Goa nightclub, which claimed 25 lives and left six injured, originated on the dance floor. Several victims reportedly fled to the downstairs kitchen attempting to escape the flames. Unfortunately, they became trapped there along with the club's staff and died from suffocation.

Eyewitnesses report that the fire at 'Birch By Romeo Lane' in Goa's Arpora village, approximately 25 km from Panaji, began around 1 am. At that time, about 100 people were enjoying themselves at the venue. The sudden outbreak of fire caused immediate panic. While some tourists managed to escape, others retreated to the kitchen downstairs. Within minutes, the entire club was engulfed in flames.

After firefighters extinguished the blaze, 25 bodies were discovered. The deceased included both tourists and staff members, with some bodies still awaiting identification.

According to the nightclub's Instagram page, 'Birch By Romeo Lane' was hosting a 'Bollywood Banger Night' when the tragedy occurred.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant described it as a "very painful day" for Goa and has ordered an investigation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound sorrow, stating: "The fire mishap in Arpora, Goa, is deeply saddening. My thoughts are with all those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. Spoke to Goa CM Dr Pramod Sawant Ji about the situation. The state government is providing all possible assistance to those affected."

Fatima Shaikh, a tourist from Hyderabad, told news agency PTI, "There was a sudden commotion as the flames started erupting. We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames."

She mentioned that some tourists rushed downstairs when the fire began. "They got trapped there along with other staff. Many managed to run out of the club," she explained. Fatima noted that the makeshift structures made of palm leaves caught fire easily.

'Birch By Romeo Lane' is situated near the Arpora River backwaters with a narrow entrance and exit. The venue markets itself as an "island club" and is connected to the main road via narrow lanes. This created serious challenges during the emergency, as fire engines couldn't directly reach the club and had to be parked about 400 meters away. A senior fire officer told PTI that the limited access hampered their ability to reach the club promptly, delaying firefighting efforts. He indicated that many deaths resulted from suffocation as victims became trapped in the smoke.

Arpora-Nagoa panchayat sarpanch Roshan Redkar revealed that the partners operating the club were involved in a dispute and had filed complaints against each other. "There was a dispute between them and they had filed a complaint against each other with the panchayat. We had inspected the premises and found that they did not have the permission to construct the club," he said.

The panchayat had issued a demolition notice, but officials from the directorate of Panchayats halted the action, according to Redkar. He mentioned that the property owner had subleased the premises to Saurav Luthra. "The fire incident that happened was unfortunate. We have been issuing notices to the establishments that are seen violating the norms. Now, we have to be more vigilant," he told PTI.